Letters to the Editor: Nov. 26

Monday

Nov 26, 2007 at 12:01 AM

Readers comment on green coffee, illegal immigration and more.

Bird-friendly coffee is 'green'

Being "green" is more than just reducing your CO2 emissions; it's also about being a steward for the diversity of wildlife on Earth. Why not drop a bag of bird-friendly coffee in that cloth bag while you're at the grocery store (or better yet, the local farmer's market)?

This type of shade-grown coffee is not only certified under organic standards, thereby reducing pollution, but it also certified to promote wildlife conservation. Bird-friendly coffee requires multiple layers of native trees. Birds and other wildlife thrive in this "agroforest."

And don't think that any old shade-grown coffee is OK - you can plant a few banana trees in the middle of a coffee plantation and call it shade-grown. Buy Smithsonian certified bird-friendly coffee.

By drinking this coffee you are not just preventing the extinction of beautiful tropical birds. Bird-friendly coffee drinkers prevent soil erosion, the "suffocation," of rivers and lakes from fertilizer runoff, and the poisoning of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife from pesticides. Bird-friendly coffee drinkers also get a much more delicious "cup-o-joe," as shade-grown coffee ripens more slowly, allowing for a richer flavor.

John J. DeLuca,Gainesville

Illegal immigration overtaxes Americans

I would like to respond to Paul Wojtalewicz's Nov. 20 letter in response to Jay Ambrose's column. Since 1876, immigration has been a problem for the U.S. government.

According to an article based on Census Bureau data published by the Center for Immigration Studies in 2004, households headed by illegal aliens used $10 billion more in government services than they paid in taxes in 2002. Illegal alien households are estimated to use $2,700 a year more in services than they pay in taxes, creating a total fiscal burden of nearly $10.4 billion on the federal budget in 2002 (imposing more taxes on the working class).

In addition, according to a nonpartisan, nonprofit Federation for American Immigration Reform article published in 2002, only 12 people have been deported for violating welfare conditions since 1980. Though on the rise, our current deportation level for illegal immigrants is still very low.

Illegal aliens are called that for a reason. They are in our country illegally. They should not be here in the first place and be denied public benefits (which was actually attempted by Immigration and Nationality Act 237A).

There are hundreds of articles on this subject online. After days of extensive research, I have come to the conclusion that illegal immigrants are not only a net loss to our country, but a detriment to the American society that I hope we all hold dear.

I am for legal immigration, as that is how most of us got to this great land in the first place. However, illegal immigration is a bane on our society and unless we do something to curb it the federal government will continue to have an increased strain on an already overtaxed budget.

Joshua Minchin,Gainesville

DNC lawsuit is frivolous

I read with glee the Nov. 21 article concerning the Democratic Party suing the state of Florida over its primary dates. The article says that our knight in shining armor, DNC Committeeman Jon Ausman, is protecting us from Florida violating our voting rights.

Who and how are we being violated? It is only a date for Pete's sake.

The most ingenious (or totally confusing) analogy made in the article is where Ausman states: "The state does not have the right to go to church and tell you which pastor you will select...The state does not have the right to go to a political party and say which nominee you will pick."

How in the world does he come up with this tripe? How does setting a date (early) "tell" someone who to pick as a political representative?

I do not see the state telling me who to pick, only when I can pick. The state does a lot of that. Just recently we observed Veterans Day. You know, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Except the state said that Veterans Day would be celebrated on Monday, Nov. 12. They didn't say who I should honor or how I should honor, just when.

No one's rights are being violated here. No one is being told who to vote for, only when. Other states have early caucuses/primaries so it is not like Florida is doing something different or wrong.

No, the only thing that is happening is the huge political machines of the Democratic and Republican parties being told what to do. If they would come together over issues that made a difference (like the economy or the war in Iraq) as they have over this frivolous item, the country would be in much greater shape and, maybe, our faith in politicians would be improved.

On Nov. 14, Chief Justice Lewis and Gov. Crist released an incisive report by Judge Leifman which provides an in-depth review of Florida's current system and makes recommendations for a program that ensures access to appropriate community-based prevention and treatment services.

A study examining the connection between the mental health and criminal justice systems has been long overdue. Florida ranks among the worst states in the country in funding mental health services, ranking 48th.

I urge the Florida Legislature to give careful consideration to the recommendations in this groundbreaking report and implement these much-needed changes. They will result in a more cost-effective system, moving resources from high-cost mental health forensics and criminal justice to lower-cost community-based care.

Thank you Gov. Crist, Chief Justice Lewis and Judge Leifman for working to ensure better care for individuals with mental illness.

Bob Sharpe,President,Florida Council for CommunityMental Health,Tallahassee